NOR Universal Gate

PLTW Engineering

Digital Electronics
Activity 2.2.3 Universal Gates: NOR

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 Universal Gate – NOR
Presentation topics:
The basic function of the NOR gate
How an NOR gate can be using to replace an AND gate, an
OR gate or an INVERTER gate
How a logic circuit implemented with AOI logic gates
could be re-implemented using only NOR gates
That using a single gate type, in this case NOR, will reduce
the number of integrated circuits (IC) required to
implement a logic circuit

AOI Logic NOR Logic

More ICs = More $$ Less ICs = Less $$

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 NOR Gate

X
ZXYX Y
Y

X Y Z
0 0 1
0 1 0
1 0 0
1 1 0

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 NOR Gate as an Inverter Gate

X  X  X (Before Bubble)

X ZX

X Z
0 1
1 0 Equivalent to Inverter

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 NOR Gate as an OR Gate

XY
X
Z XY XY
Y

NOR Gate “Inverter”

X Y Z
0 0 0
0 1 1
1 0 1 Equivalent to OR Gate
1 1 1

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 NOR Gate as an AND Gate
X

X Y
ZXYXYXY
Y

“Inverters” NOR Gate

X Y Z
0 0 0
0 1 0
1 0 0 Equivalent to AND Gate
1 1 1

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 NOR Gate Equivalent of AOI Gates

AND OR INVERTER

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 NOR Implementation Procedure
1. If starting from a logic expression, implement the design
with AOI logic
2. In the AOI implementation, identify and replace every
AND,OR, and INVERTER gate with its NOR equivalent
3. Redraw the circuit
4. Identify and eliminate any double inversions e.g. back-to-
back inverters
5. Redraw the final circuit

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 NOR Implementation Example
Try to produce a solution before revealing the solution on the
next slide
Design a NOR logic circuit equivalent to the AOI circuit
shown

BC A C

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 NOR Implementation Example Solution
Step 2: Identify and replace every AND,OR, and INVERTER
gate with its NAND equivalent

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 NOR Implementation Example Solution
Step 3: Redraw Circuit

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 NOR Implementation Example Solution
Step 4: Identify and eliminate any double inversions

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 NOR Implementation
Step 5: Redraw Circuit

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 Proof of Equivalence

BCBCBC
C

B BCA C
C
Z BCA C
BCA C
A
ACACAC

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 AOI vs. NOR

IC Type Gates Gate / IC # ICs IC Type Gates Gate / IC # ICs

74LS04 1 6 1 74LS02 7 4 2
74LS08 2 4 1 Total Number of ICs → 2
74LS32 1 4 1
Total Number of ICs → 3

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